TEXT:

‘Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near’ (Isaiah 55:6).

The Bible records the last two named “people encounters” Jesus had before His trial and crucifixion. They happened at Jericho, shortly before His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. These form the basis for Today’s Teaching.

Our text urges us to, ‘Call upon Him while He is near!’ As Jesus passed through Jericho, He spoke to Zacchaeus and as He left the city, He passed by Bartimaeus. What can we learn from their encounters with Jesus, the mighty Son of God?

1. They were excluded from normal life

A. Zacchaeus – because he was hated (See Luke 19:1-10)

He worked for the enemy, the Romans, and cheated his own people. He could never sleep easy, nor mingle freely with the crowds for fear of being attacked. He would always have been surrounded by personal bodyguards and Roman soldiers to protect him. This form of exclusion was entirely his own making.

B. Bartimaeus – because he was blind (See Mark 10:46-52)

Zacchaeus had great wealth but Bartimaeus had nothing and begged to survive. Some would throw him a coin every time they passed by, others would ignore his cry for alms, tired of seeing him sat in the same place day after day.

The saying, “You don’t appreciate what you have until you don’t have it anymore” really is true. It doesn’t say Bartimaeus was born blind and we don’t know what caused his blindness. How he felt when he lost his sight, only those who have experienced something similar would have any idea.

2. They both had an opportunity to meet Jesus

A. Zacchaeus – climbed up a tree in order to see Jesus

Not very dignified for a chief tax collector to do but he didn’t care because desire drove him on. Too short to see above the crowds, he had to climb above them to get a good view. How startled he must have been when Jesus stopped, looked up and called him by name, inviting Himself to his house.

It’s important to let godly desire drive us on. If in church you feel overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness and want to raise your hands in praise and worship, don’t be self-conscious and hold back. Give the Lord the glory due His name and you may find others joining in!

B. Bartimaeus – started to call out once he knew it was Jesus

No doubt he had heard many wonderful stories of miracles from those passing by. Jesus had been to Jericho before and maybe Bartimaeus had been too shy to call out then, but this time he shouted. Perhaps he was reminded of our text and acted accordingly. Whatever the reason, he started shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”.

3. The crowds tried to stop Jesus from having anything to do with them

A. Zacchaeus

He would have blushed with embarrassment when he heard the crowds saying, “He’s gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner!” If Jesus didn’t know about Zacchaeus’ reputation, He did then! But Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. As a result, Zacchaeus changed from a getter to a giver, and willing to make restitution to anyone he had cheated. Truly a life-changing encounter!

B. Bartimaeus

When the crowds heard him shout, they told him to be quiet. They wrongly assumed his blindness was the result of sin (see John 9:1-11). They thought Jesus didn’t have time for sinners. How wrong they were, for Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost! Left to the crowd, Bartimaeus would have remained blind, but because he called, miraculously he received his sight.

If the Bible gives you hope by a promise from God, don‘t let anyone put you off claiming it. Keep shouting in hope, until faith rises in your heart and you can say, “I’ve got it!”

It’s very easy for others to discourage you, especially if they don’t have your need. Jesus won’t do that because He was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes. He sent out the twelve disciples to help people and then another seventy. He’s still sending out believers into all parts of the world and that includes where you live! Don’t hold back from going, for you can help change someone’s life through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What would have happened if they had decided to wait and encounter Jesus on another day?

They would have both missed their opportunity. Within two weeks Jesus would have been crucified, never to walk to and fro again through Jericho. Our text says, ‘Seek the Lord while He may be found’. Act on that impulse and opportunity, for tomorrow may be too late and you may be left thinking Jesus doesn’t care for you when the reverse is true. Don’t miss your chance for Him to prove that.

The Bible says, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart’ (Hebrews 3:15). Instead, let it leap for joy that God wants to speak to you. Be willing to listen and then to act, for it will be in your best interest to do so. Who knows how lives will be changed as a result, yours or someone else’s?

Finally, when Paul was witnessing to Felix, because of fear Felix said, ‘Go away for now, when I have a convenient time I will call for you’ (Acts 24:25). This happened several times until Felix was replaced by Festus and never saw Paul again. What an opportunity missed! Don’t make the same mistake. ‘Today, if you hear His voice’ respond!